Google’s online video service, Youtube, was instrumental in helping a father deliver his son, showing how powerful web-based videos can be in case of emergencies.

Speaking to the BBC, proud father Marc Stephens of Redruth Cornwall, said candidly that he searched for “how to deliver a baby” on Google. He watched the first few videos – including one that shows how to deliver a baby in a cab – which came up during the search (incidentally from Youtube) as a precautionary measure.

Mr Stephens said that he didn’t have time to panic – partly because of his Navy training – when she started to complain of pain three weeks before the baby was due and he was told the ambulances were held up. Because he knew that his wife has had a history of fast births with their previous three children, he did not take any risks and acted quickly and promptly.

Baby Gabriel was born four hours later and the Royal Navy Engineer later let the paramedics in to take over. The whole family was back home, safe and sound within a few hours. Mr Stephens said that “The videos gave me peace of mind. I think I would have coped, but watching videos made things much easier.”